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Work has begun on the east side of New Street station in Birmingham, in the next stage of its £650m revamp.

The original 1960s concrete facade is being removed in large sections.

The exterior cladding of the station will be updated from pebbledash to stainless steel.

As well as aesthetic remodelling, the project is designed to deliver better pedestrian connections across the city and new public space.

An artist's impression shows the station's future steel-clad exterior, which will replace the current concrete and pebbledash

A 35m (114ft) high atrium made of glass and steel will cover an area of 3,300 sq m (3,947 sq yds), and the station will be lit by natural light for the first time in more than 40 years.

Chris Montgomery, Network Rail project director, said: "Our work outside New Street station will contribute towards the creation of a world-class transport hub for Birmingham that's fit for the 21st century.

New Street station

Original station was opened on 1 June 1854

Station was badly damaged by WW2 bombing

It was demolished in 1964

The current station then opened in 1967

"The stainless steel façade will completely transform the tired, old exterior into a stunning modern building that is already taking shape on the north side of the station, adding to the city's growing reputation for good design.

"We are delivering a station that Birmingham can be proud of."

Building began in 2010, when the first platform was refurbished, and the exterior work started in 2011.

April 2013 saw the most significant milestone so far, when half of the new concourse opened.

The station is scheduled to open fully in 2015, and will be three-and-a-half times bigger than the one it replaces.

An event to look at housing across the West Midlands is being hosted by Wolverhampton City Council today.

The Local Government Association event is looking at "collaborative working in the region to address the housing challenge".

Speakers include Sir Michael Lyons (pictured), chairman of the English Cities Fund. You can follow the event via the Twitter hashtag #BuildingBritain and see more on Midlands Today at 18:30 on BBC One.

14:34:Bournemouth v WolvesBBC Sport

Wolves welcome back striker Kevin Doyle after he missed the 1-0 win at Cardiff for the birth of his daughter.

It was the third EDL rally in the town in the past five years and hundreds of police officers were drafted in.

13:45:Ex-manager dies aged 80Chris BlakemoreNews editor, BBC WM

The former Walsall and Blues manager Dave Mackay has died aged 80. He was the Saddlers boss from March 1977 to August 1978.

He was in charge at St Andrew's between 1989 and 1991.

Paul Franks will be speaking to his official biographer live on Drivetime today on BBC WM.

13:33:Mander Centre futureExpress and Star

The new owners of the city's Mander Centre, Benson Elliot, have said they want to change the face of shopping in the centre by getting rid of a perceived 'discount store mentality' as it looks ahead to a £25 million revamp. Read more.

13:22:Villa v West BromBBC Sport

Aston Villa's Ron Vlaar has completed a ban but is "touch and go" to face West Brom because of a calf injury.

Kieran Richardson and Aly Cissokho remain unavailable so Matt Lowton could again deputise at left-back.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis (pictured right) has fitness concerns over Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye, who both limped off against Southampton on Saturday with respective foot and knee injuries.

Det Con Mike Griffiths says: "From speaking to the boy's girlfriend we know that the couple first encountered the group of suspects outside the Tesco store on Chipperfield Road.

"The assault then took place by a bus stop outside Hodge Hill United Reformed Church and St Philip & St James Church on Coleshill Road. It was here that a bus passenger handed wet wipes to the boy's girlfriend prior to getting on to a bus and we hope that this person comes forward."

11:39:Heptathlete thanks tweeters

Following the Crimewatch appeal last night Kelly Sotherton tweets: Thank you to everyone who has retweeted or messaged me regarding the medals. It means a lot!

11:24:'I didn't need a mastectomy'Michelle DawesJournalist, BBC WM

This morning I've been speaking with Frances Perks, who had an unnecessary mastectomy at Spire Health Care.

She was told by a consultant in 2012 that all the operations she'd had she didn't need.

Ms Perks says: "I started seeing Ian Paterson in 1994 and saw him until 2010. He always told me my family was high risk and [I have] since found out that wasn't the case. It's had a dreadful effect on me and my family. I just never thought I'd be in this position."

We're speaking to women demonstrating outside the Spire Parkway hospital in Solihull. They were treated by Dr Ian Paterson, who operated unnecessarily on some women who'd seen him privately under the NHS.

The women will deliver an open letter to management at Spire Health Care - expressing their frustration at the slow reaction to their legal cases.

And our reporter Ben Sidwell is in Wolverhampton at a special conference looking at housing issues in the region.

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